About Nina

Picture books have always captured my imagination; I still treasure a collection of books from when I was a child. I love the creative potential of a picture book and the collaboration it requires. I approach my work with fun, laughter and lots of love.

In 1992, I graduated from Randwick with a diploma in graphic design and worked in Sydney and London before turning my hand to illustration. My first picture book Little Platypus received a CBCA notable book in 2001.

It's been a decade since I've had my first picture book published and since then I've illustrated a number of books including Tricky Little Hippo (Jane Bowring, 2005), Elephant Dance (Sue Whiting, 2007) and the award winning picture book and stage production Boom Bah! (Phil Cummings, 2007).

2009 saw the completion of four years work in a book that I co/wrote and illustrated, titled Ballroom Bonanza, a story inspired by my childrens great-grandfather Tommy Jones (band master at the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool from 1947-1978). Ballroom Bonanza is a finalist in the CJ Picture Book Awards International Competition.

2010 was a big year, as I not only celebrated the launch of two picture books, No More Kisses (Margaret Wild, 2009) and Now I Am Bigger (Sherryl Clark, 2010), but I also established Literature Live! with a group of well known Australian Authors and moved from Australia to Auckland where I now reside with my husband and two children. The dust has finally settled and I look forward to starting work on two new picture books in the coming year.

I'm still actively involved with school visits and illustration workshops, visiting students in Australia during Book Week (August 20 - August 26, 2011) and remotely throughout the year with Literature Live! using interactive white boards and video conferencing.

See my 'appearances' page for more details about my school visits and workshops.

12107: Little Platypus by Hilton, Nette & Rycroft, Nina (ill)

When a little native animal hatches from an egg beside a river, he feels lonely. He doesn't know where he belongs. How can he find a friend who is just the same? Help Little Platypus discover who he really is. K-2 booklist

link to Little Platypus (Premier's Reading Challenge Website)

The most amazing dance contest you will ever see including affluent alpacas, groovy goats and impetuous impalas. The donkeys demonstrate the disco, flamingos do the flamenco and hippos perform the hip-hop. When the band's instruments are hidden, you will have to help find them so that the competition can continue. Beautifully crafted rhyme with exquisite illustrations with mystery and monkey business. 3-4 booklist

link to Ballroom Bonanza (Premier's Reading Challenge Website)

Professional Activities
Memeber, Australian Society of Authors (ASA)
Member, Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
Member, Publish! Blue Mountains
Member, The Style File
Founding Member of Literature Live!

Exhibitions
2010: Ballroom Bonanza original illustration was bought by the Dromkeen Museum - Scholastic Australia, to be part of the National Centre for Picture Book Art.

October 4-15, 2009: Ballroom Bonanza illustrations were displayed at the International Exhibition of Children's Book Illustration - Imaginary Journeys.

October 2009: An original Ballroom Bonanza artwork is a part of the permanent children's book illustration exhibition, Hughenden Hotel, Woollahra, NSW

September 20- October 18, 2009: Original Ballroom Bonanza illustrations were exhibited at the Twentieth Annual Australian Children's Picture Book Illustration Exhibition, Customs House Gallery, Warrnambool, VIC

Ballroom Bonanza
Nina Rycroft
Published in by Working Title Press, 2009
First American publication by ABRAMS, 2010
Currently listed on the NSW Premiers Reading Challenge